Between Friends

Nat gasped as Bruce looked over her shoulder smiling as she spoke, "Oh, (Y/N). It's beautiful." She beamed at you and whispered as she handed it back, "Wow."

You smiled tentatively. It was beautiful and such an amazing gift. Not only the ring, but basically formally giving himself to you and waiting for you to decide when and if you'll be ready to be with him. That- is beautiful. But, for something so serious, there sat a pit in your stomach with someone's name on it. That name was Sebastian. You sighed heavily and closed the box. Nat gave you a supportive, but clearly disappointed closed mouth smile when you didn't put the ring on and at seeing how hesitant this all made you. She knew you needed more time... But she still had hopes. She knew you'd be so happy with Chris if you could just fucking get there. She could tell you were close though. You just needed something- something to finally flip that switch.

"Well? You want to call him? I mean, he's gotta be awake, right?", she asked, knowing that he was two time zones ahead of you.

"Well, the note did say to call him after I opened my gift and that he'd be waiting.", you pulled your mouth to one side. "I probably should. It's what he asked- or affectionately demanded, rather.", you chuckled.

Nat smiled and hitched her head to one side and winked, "Go on."

You picked up your phone and left for the kitchen while Bruce and Nat cuddled on the couch to finish their coffee and basically gossip about you and Chris.

You dialed his number and waited.

He had actually already gotten up much earlier than he had needed to in order to wait for your call. As he was sitting in the living room of his parents' house, waiting for his phone to ring, the rest of the house woke up and they opened gifts. Afterwards he said he was going to go lay back in bed for a little bit before breakfast was ready. He laid his head down on the pillow and gripped his phone in his hand on his chest and fell asleep within moments.

When he woke again, his phone was quietly ringing. He forced his exhausted eyes open, finding that his phone was no longer in his hand, but on the bed, next to him. He picked it up and blinked a few times at the display. It was you and he answered quickly.

His voice was gravelly, but soft, soothing and sounded slightly strained when he picked up, like he might be stretching, "Heyyyy, sweetheart. Merry Christmas."

A small smile quickly found your lips. "Merry Christmas, Chris.", you offered softly.

"Okay, before you say anything-", his voice was a touch more lively now. "Questions. One, did you open my gift?"

"Yes.", your voice offered no indication of your state of emotion, which was actually kind of jumbled at the moment, so you couldn't really convey any one emotion anyway.

"Two, did you open the little box that was inside the sweater, read the note in the little box and open the little box inside the little box that was inside the sweater?"

You were smiling a little more at his redundant use of words, "Yes, I got the ring, Chris."

"Three, did I scare you off?"

"Would I be calling if you had?"

He squinted an eye, "So that's a 'no'?"

"Correct."

You heard him sigh heavily in relief, "Okay. So- We don't need to talk anymore about this, okay? Just follow what the note said; that's all I'm asking." Although, it was eating at him a little that he didn't know if you were wearing it now or not. But, he had put himself out there as far as he possibly could for you and it's now out of his hands, so to speak. So, he did his best to push the question from his mind.

"Alright. I loved the other things you sent. I'm going to wear them to bed tonight. They look really cozy... And the ring is... breathtaking." You couldn't help but smile thinking about how much intention Chris had put behind that gift... and all for you. "Thank you so much, Chris.", you said softly.

He was trying to read into what you said and how you said it, wondering again if it meant you were wearing it or not. He cursed himself mentally and just tried to be present with you. "You are so very welcome, (Y/N)." He paused. "I opened your gift too.", you could hear him smiling. "I love it. It's perfect. My Dad tried to steal it.", he chuckled.

"Well, then maybe I'll just have to knit him his own.", you chortled.

About two weeks later, late on a Friday night, Bruce and Nat had gone to bed and you were talking to Chris while laying on the couch with the TV on quietly. As much as he tried to ignore it, he still wondered constantly if you were wearing the ring he gave you. Though, he suspected that if you were you might be acting differently, more open maybe... More affectionate in the way you spoke to him... Or that you might just tell him your were wearing it. Or maybe you just didn't want him to know until he came home; until he could see it on your finger himself.

The two of you were talking about anything and everything for two hours... Except your relationship. But, that was okay. It didn't need to be talked about right now; it just needed to be lived.

"Bad enough that you were away for Christmas, it double sucks that you weren't here for New Year's Eve.", you pouted over the line.

"Aw. You needed me to kiss you, didn't you?"

You giggled, "I just really miss my best friend. And it's kinda fun to get a little drunk in your presence."

"So you needed me to carry you." You both laughed, then he continued, "Three weeks. God, I'm so excited to get home.", he said softly.

You smiled, your eyelids starting to droop as sleep wanted to take over, "Me too.", you said through a yawn, then your voice was quiet, soft and smooth, "I'll probably be following you around like a puppy for a while when you do."

He hummed contentedly, his own voice low and deep, "Hmmm, I love your sleepy voice, hon. It's so sweet... And sexy."

Your heart skipped a beat and then you smiled as your eyes closed, humming yourself in response.

"Okay, stop it.", he scolded playfully.

You stretched, your eyes remaining closed while you started to drift off. your voice still soft, but slightly strained with pleasure, because stretching just felt so damn good, "Mmm, stop what?"

"Jesus...", his voice was barely above a whisper. "What are you doing over there?"

You let out a huff of a laugh, "Stretching."

"Wow. If that's what stretching sounds like...", he trailed off.

You half chortled, half giggled and scolded him playfully now, "Chris."

"What? I'm still a guy and we think things. And sometimes we say those things... When we're tired... and lonely... And missing our best girl."

Just as he finished his thought, you smiled softly and started falling asleep.

After a moment of him waiting for a response, he spoke again, "Sweetheart?"

You're eyes didn't open, but you gained enough consciousness to reply, "That's so sweet, Chris."

"It's the truth. Are you falling asleep?"

"Uh, yeah. I should probably go to bed, but I don't want to hang up.", you chortled.

"Then don't.", he replied. "Leave the line open and I'll hang up after a while."

You smiled softly and sighed, "Okay. Goodnight, Chris."

You could hear that he was smiling too, "Goodnight, (Y/N). Sweet dreams."

You fell asleep quickly and started to dream some time after. You were sitting on a couch in a waiting room with Sebastian, holding hands. You didn't know what kind of waiting room it was, you didn't know why you were there and not knowing made you a little nervous. Sebastian stood and pulled you up to your feet. He looked into your eyes and smiled slightly. Your heart felt like something was pulling at it seeing his face again. He cupped your face with both hands and gave you a soft kiss. You felt your throat tightening like your were going to cry. He held you close against him until Chris came in through a door that you sensed came from a hallway. Chris stepped to the side of you and Sebastian. Sebastian took your hand and put it in Chris's, which Chris was holding out for you. You looked up from your hand in Chris's to Sebastian, confused. Sebastian circled around you and stopped behind you as Chris moved to stand in front of you.. Sebastian snaked an arm around your waist snugly and moved his hand over your hand that Chris wasn't holding and intertwined his fingers with yours. Your gaze went to Chris, his eyes loving. He placed a light hand on your cheek and he kissed you gently as Sebastian still embraced you from behind. You couldn't bring yourself to break the kiss... Because you wanted it. When Chris pulled back, Sebastian kissed the back of your head and curled his fingers open and closed over your stomach before he stepped away and went to a different door than the one Chris came in from. Your heart sank. Sebastian turned to face you both. He simply smiled and blinked slowly at you, then he took one step back into the closed door and disappeared through it.

Your eyes opened and you sat up on the couch, the sun illuminating the living room through the lightly colored curtains. You blinked a few times, slightly taken aback and playing the events of your dream over in your head.

My God, did he really mean it? Did he really mean what he said to Chris... to the fullest? 'Take care of my girl.', he had said. 'Take care of my girl.' Your mind flashed to moments in times passed. That night around the fire when Chris pulled your drunk ass onto his lap and Sebastian smiled while watching Chris hold you. When Chris came home again after finding out that you and Sebastian were together, he gave you and Chris time alone to embrace and reconnect. After Chris punched Sebastian being protective of you, Sebastian never challenged Chris during that incident, actually thanked him for what he had done and allowed Chris to comfort you intimately to make amends. The pieces were clicking into place. Oh my God, did Sebastian see something there? Did he see that you loved Chris before you even had? Was Chris in love with you all this time and did Sebastian see that too? Your hand went to your mouth in shock and realization.

Sebastian never stopped anything between you and Chris; and a couple times he even encouraged it. He had never acted jealous or territorial with Chris when it came to you. You and Chris were the only ones who had kept things from moving forward between the two of you. Sebastian never stood in the way. He really meant it.

'Take care of my girl.'

And Chris promised Sebastian that he would.

Your eyes closed and the tears came as you whispered to yourself, "Oh my God."